Flash-light



G. l. JOHNSON.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED 06123,]919.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1 Gwsiaf lvarqoa j y G. l. JOHNSON.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.23,1919.

Patented. Jan. 25, 192k 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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eus'mr Ivan JOHNSON, or MALDEN, massacnosn'r'rs.

FLASH-men's.

' To all whom vltfmay concern:

I which the following is a specification.

This invention relates 'to electric flash lights and particularly' to devices of this character provided with manually actuated instrumentalities for generating ,the current for the lamp.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

For the purpose of illustrating the ,invention one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although" it is to'be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and the invention 7 is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described, except as required by the scope of the'appended claimsf the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a flashlight embodying the principles of thexpresent invention.

1 Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section on line 2, 2, on Fig. 1.

.Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of the same on line 3, 3, on Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 represents a transverse section on line 1, 4, on Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 to inclusive represent similar sections on lines, 5, 5; 6, 6; 7, 7; 8, 8; 9, 9; and 10, Non Fig. 2, and

Fig." 11 represents a partial longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1 and showing theew clutch members disengaged.

Similar characters indicate,-

which extend toward the opposite end of said frame-work, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and2 of thedrawin Specification elf-Letters ratent.

, Tarts throughout the several. figures of; th draw Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed October 23,1919. Serial No. 334,615.

The opposite ends 14: and 15 of said framework, are cylindrical and are surrounded by a. cylindrical housing 16 extending from the outer face of the end 14 to the outer face of the end 15. 5

One end of. the housing 16 is closed by the cap 17 and surrounding the opposite end of said housing 16 is a cylindrical member 18 having a lens 19 in the outer end thereof, back of which is a reflector 20 having centrally disposed therein, an electric lamp 21.

A spring plate 22 mounted on and insulated from the frame-work 10, contacts with The inner end of the contact member 24zis' 1n contact with a collar 25 mounted upon E but insulated from the shaft 26 of a revo- I luble armature 27.

The member 24: is threaded for adjustment endwise in order to secure proper contact with the collar 25. 'The opposite ends of the armature shaft 26 are cone-shaped with the points thereof positioned between a series of balls or similar anti-friction members mounted in recesses in the opposed ends of.the members 28 and 29 adjustably mounted in the framework 10. These members 28 and 29 are in axial alinement and may be adjusted to vary the distance between the bearings for the ends of the shaft 26.

The rear end of the shaft 26 is provided with a helical thread 30, with which meshes a worm gear 31 secured to and revoluble with a transverse shaft 32 revolubly mounted in bearings in the frame-work 10 and having secured thereto a helical pinion 33 -Iheshing with .a helical gear 34 revolubly "mounted upon a stud 35 positioned in the tame-work 10.

gear 36 meshing with another bevel-gear 37 loosely mounted upon a shaft 38, the ends of which are cone-shaped and positioned in anti-friction hearings in the opposednends of the adjustable members 39 and 40. These members 39 and 40 are in axial alinement The'helical gear 34 revolves with a bevel- I and may be adjusted towardor from each. other to vary the distance between the antifriction bearingsfor the shaft 38.

Secured to the rear end and revoluble with the shaft 38, is a clutch member 41 having secured thereto and revoluble therewith, a ratchet wheel 42 with which engages a pawl 43 pivoted at 44 to the end 15.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft 38 is a worm 45 having ratchet teeth 46 cut in one end adapted to engage the teeth of the clutch member 41 when movedendwise upon said shaft 38.

In the ears 47 is mounted a pin 48 forming a pintle for an operating lever 49, the shorter arm of which is provided with a segment of a gear 50, the teeth of which mesh with the teetlt of the worm 45. Normally the longer arm of the lever 49 rests against the periphery of the housing 16 and is held in this position by means of the slidable member 51 which is supported by a clip 52 on the housing 16.

When the flashlight is in use, the slidable member 51 isin the position indicated in Fig. l of the drawings.

When the flashlight is not in use, the

' longer arm of the lever 49 is moved into con- Fig. 1, the longer arm tact with the periphery of the housing 16 and the slidable member 51 is moved so as to project over the end of said longer arm to lock said lever in inoperative position.

With the parts in the position shown in of the lever 49 is moved outwardly into the position indicated in Fig. 11 by means of the spring 53 surrounding the pintle 48.

When the lever 49 is in this position,.the teeth 46 are disengaged from the teeth of the clutch member 41] 1 When hand pressure is applied to the lever 49 to move the longer arm of said lever toward the periphery of the housing 16, the segment 50 will at first move the worm endwise until its teeth 46 have engaged the teeth of the clutch member 41 as. shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The continued arm of the lever 49 to move it toward said periphery, will cause the worm segment to coact with the worm 45 and through the clutch member 41, rotate the shaft 38.

This rotary movement of the shaft 38 will be imparted to a cup-shaped casing 54 to which one end of a spring 55 is secured as indicated at 56 in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The opposite end of said spring 55 has an opening therein through which extends a cam-shaped lug 57 formed upon the hub 58 of a disk 59 loosely mounted upon the shaft 38 and closing the end of the spring casing 54. p The bevel-gear 37 is pinned to the disk 59 and rotates therewith.

.both the worm teeth mountedat 62 on .21 and this pressure upon the longer When the shaft 38 is rotated by means of the lever 49, the spring 5'5'will be quickly wound and as soon as pressure is released threads 30 upon the armature shaft 26.

The armature shaft 26 will be rotated at a greatly increased rate of speed over the speed of rotation of the shaft 38 owing to the ratio of the gear train interposed between said shafts.

It is obvious that the pitch of the teeth of 30 and the worm 45 must be such that rotary movement will be imparted thereto by the movement ofthe members coacting therewith.

The axis of the shaft 26 is at one side of the center of the permanent magnet 12 as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The armature 27 is manner.

The adjustable member 28 has mounted thereon, a fixed cup-shaped member 60.

Secured to and revoluble with the shaft 26 is a disk 61 extending into the open end of the cup-shaped member 60 and pivotally said disk 61, are two weighted members 63 having contact projections 64 thereon.

The outer ends of these contact members 64 areadapted to bear against the inner wall 0; the cup-shaped member 60 and retard t e mences-to rotate too rapidly.

By means of this device, the operator by manipulating the lever 49, may rotate the armature 27 at suflicient speed to generate enough electric current to light the lamp current is maintained at a predetermined speed by means of the governor mechanism surrounding the shaft of said armature.

Means is also provided" between the armature and the lamp for creating suflicient rewound in the usual speed of the armature 27 when it com sistance to prevent any excessive amount of 'plana-tion, the operation and many advantages of the invention will be fully under stood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a lamp at one end thereof; a permanent magnet mounted It dispenses with the usual batteries in said framework with its polesextending away from said lamp; a rotatable armaturepositioned between and lengthwise of the poles of said magnet; electric connections between said lamp and armature; and a manually actuated device for imparting rotary movement to said armature.

2. In a device of the 'class' described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between the poles of said magnet and at one side of the longitudinal center of the poles thereof; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; and a-manually actuated device for-imparting rotary movement to said armature.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a lamp at one end thereof; a permanent magnet mounted in said framework with its poles extending away from said lamp; a rotatable armature positioned between and lengthwise of the poles of said magnet; a shaft on which saidarmature is mounted; anti-friction hearings on said framework in whichthe ends of said shaft are positioned; electric connections between said lamp and armature; and a man- ,ually actuated device for imparting rotary movement to said armature.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a lamp at one end thereof; a permanent magnet mounted in said framework with its poles extending away from said lamp; a rotatable armature positioned between and lengthwise of the poles of said magnet; a shaft on which said armature is mounted havingcone-shaped ends; anti-friction bearings on said framework 1n WhlCh the ends of said shaft are positloned; electric connections between said lamp and armature; and a manually actuated device for imparting rotary movement to said armature.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a lamp at one end thereof; a permanent magnet mounted in said framework with its poles extending away from said lamp; a rotatable armature positioned between and lengthwise of the poles of said magnet; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a shaft for said armature having a worm formed thereon; a worm wheel meshing with said worm; and means for imparting rotary movement to said worm wheel.

6. In a device of theclass described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between and lengthwise of the poles of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a shaft for said armature having a worm formed thereon; a worm wheel meshing with said worm; and spring actuated means for imparting rotary movement to said worm wheel.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between and lengthwise of the poles. of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a shaft for said arma ture having a worm formed thereon; a worm wheel meshing with said worm; a spring for imparting rotary movement to saidworm gear; and manually actuated mechanism for winding said spring.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between the poles of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a shaft for said armature having a worm formed thereon; a worm wheel meshing with said worm; a train of gears for imparting rotary movement to said worm gear; a spring for actuating the initial gear of said train and connected at one end thereto; a spring casing to which the opposite end of said spring is connected; a shaft to which said casing is secured and on which said initial gear is free to rotate; and a manually actuated mechanism for rotating said shaft.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between the poles of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a shaft for said armature having a worm formed thereon; a worm wheel meshing with said Worm; a train of gears for imparting rotary movement to said worm gear; a spring for actuating the initial gear of said train and connected at one end thereto; a spring casing to which the opposite end of said spring is connected; a shaft to which said casing is secured and on which said initial gear is free to rotate; a clutch member secured to said casing shaft; a second clutch member loosely mounted upon said shaft and movable endwise; and means for engaging said clutch members and'imparting rotary movement thereto.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between the poles of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp'and armature; a shaft for said armature having a worm formed thereon; a worm wheel meshing with said worm; a train of gears for imparting rotarymovement to said 'worm gear; a spring for actuating the initial gear of said train and connected at one end thereto; a spring casing to which the opposite end of said spring is connected; a shaft to which said casing is secured and on which said initial gear is free to rotate; a clutch member secured to said casing shaft; a second clutch member loosely mounted upon said shaft and movable endwise; means for engaging said clutch members and imparting rotary movement thereto; and means for preventing said casing shaft rotating in a reverse direction.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between the poles of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a shaft for said armature having a worm formed thereon; a worm Wheel meshing with said warm; a train of gears for imparting" rotary movement to said worm gear; a spring for actuating the initial gear of said tram and connected at one end thereto; a spring casing to which the opposite end of said spring is connected; a shaft to which said casing is secured and on which said initial gear is free to rotate; a clutch member secured to said casing shaft; a second clutch member loosely mounted upon said shaft and movable endwise; said clutch member having a helical thread on its periphery; a gear segment meshing with said helical thread; and manually actuated mechanism for imparting movement to said segment.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framework; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between the poles of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a shaft for said armature having a worm formed thereon; a worm wheel meshing with said worm; a train of gears for imparting rotary movement to said worm wear: a spring for actuating the initial gear of said train and connected at one end thereto; a spring casing to which the opposite end of said spring is connected; a shaft to which said casing is secured and on which said initial gear is free to rotate; a clutch member secured to said casing shaft; a second clutch member loosely mounted upon said shaft and movable endwise, said clutch member having a helical thread on its periphery; a pivoted gear segment meshing with said helical thread; and manually actuatedmechanism for imparting movement to said segment. ,1 3. In a device of the class described, the

.coiiibination of a frame-work; a permanent magnetmounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature lengthwise of the mp; and armature;

positioned between and poles of said magnet; a electric connections between said lamp a rotatable shaft-for said armature; and a the speed of said armature.

14. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a frame-work; a permanent ried by said rotatable member and 'coacting with said cup-shaped member to control the speed of said armature. a

15. In a device of theclass described, the combination of a frame-work; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between and lengthwise of the poles of said magnet; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; a rotatable shaft for said armature; and alined members adjustably mounted in said frame-work provided with opposed bearings for said armature shaft.

16. In a device of the ,class described, the combination of a frameswork; a permanent magnet mounted in one end thereof; a rotatable armature positioned between and lengthwise of the poles of said magnet; -a rotatable shaft for'said armature; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and armature; members threaded to said framework in axial alinement; and anti-friction members in the opposed ends of said alined members adapted to support the opposite governor for controlling contacting therewith; a member contacting with said lamp; and wire connections between sald contact members.-

18. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a frame-work provided with a transverse slot at one end; a permanent magnet supported in said slotwith its pole members extending lengthwise of said frame-work; a casing fittedover said framework; a lamp mounted thereon; and an armature revolubly' mounted on said framework electrically connected to said lamp, said armature being rotatable about an axis parallel with the poles of said magnet.

19. In a device of the classdescribed, the

combination of a frame-work; a magnetogenerator on said frame-work including an armature rotatable about an axis lengthwise of said framework; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and generator;

spring actuated mechanism for imparting rotary movement to said armature; and a lever pivoted to said frame-work and adapted to place said spring mechanism in operation.

20, In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame-work; a magnetogenerator on said frame-work. including a rotating armature; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and generator; spring actuated mechanism for imparting rotary movement to said armature; a lever pivoted to said frame-work and adapted to place said spring mechanism in operation; a casing surrounding said frame-work; and a slidable member thereon adapted to lock said lever against said casing when the lamp is not in use.

21. In a device of the class described; the

combination of amagneto-generator includmg a rotatlng armature; a shaft for said armature extending lengthwise of said device; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and-generator; and means surrounding the armature shaft for controlling the speed of said rotating armature.

22. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination of a magneto-generator including a rotating armature; a shaft for said armature extending lengthwise of said device; a lamp; electric connections between said lamp and generator; and automatic means surrounding the, armature shaft for controlling the speed of said rotating armature.

combination of a magneto-generator including a rotating armature extending lengthwise of said device; a revoluble shaft on which said armature is mounted; a lamp;

23. In a device of theclass described, the

electric connections between said-lamp and generator; and a governor on said shaft and rotatable therewith.

24. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a magneto-generator including a rotating armature extending length-' wise ofsaid device; a revoluble shaft on which said armature is mounted; a lamp; and an electric connection between said lamp and generator having a resistance therein.

25. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a magneto-generator including a rotating armature extending lengthwise of said device; a revoluble shaft on which said armature is mounted; a lamp; and wire connections between the lamp and generator of suflicient size and length as to create the required resistance to the electric current.

Signed by me at 746-7 Old South Bldg, Boston, Mass, this 10th day of Qctober,

, GUSTAF IVAR JOHNSON. Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LoMBARD. 

